Evaluate dock capacity, pallet racking and clear heights, inbound/outbound staging, WMS integration, carrier pickup windows, SLA terms, inventory visibility, returns handling and local labor availability. Also verify power reliability, security protocols and contingency plans for seasonal volume spikes.

Carrier density and road quality directly affect pickup frequency, transit speed and per‑parcel costs. Warehouses near primary highways and with multi‑carrier relationships offer better negotiated rates, predictable ETAs and lower late‑delivery risk—key to meeting SLAs and sustaining customer satisfaction.

Require a WMS with API connectivity for real‑time inventory sync, batch picking, barcode scanning, EDI capabilities for retail customers, temperature control where needed, and SLA reporting dashboards. These reduce stockouts, speed replenishment and enable efficient multi‑channel fulfillment.

Model trade‑offs between lower lease and labor costs versus increased transport spend to distant markets. Compare inventory holding costs, safety stock needs, carrier rate structures and speed‑to‑customer. Start with pilot sites near demand clusters to validate service levels before scaling.